Arties Ideal prevails in tight Preferred

Arties Ideal (American Ideal) hung on in a three-horse photo in the Horses and Geldings Preferred Pace at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Monday (Feb. 5).

Samuel Fillion gave the harness racing gelding front-stepping orders, and Arties Ideal marched parked-out through at the opening quarter in :27.2 to take command. The leader let off the gas to the half in :57.3, but pressure from the first-over Pembrook Legacy N (Lorne House) forced a faster tempo to three-quarters in 1:26.4.

Arties Ideal and Pembrook Legacy N raced side-by-side into the stretch with a half-length between them. P L Oliver (Colin Kelly), advancing off a three-wide move, stormed onto the scene late. Pembrook Legacy N and P L Oliver both closed in, with the latter going the better of the two, but Arties Ideal reached home with his nose in front in 1:57.3.

P L Oliver pipped Pembrook Legacy N for place.

ARTIES IDEAL REPLAY

The Kyle Fellows-trained Arties Ideal has won two Preferreds in four starts this season for owner Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern. The eight-year-old stallion has 26 wins and $630,290 to his name in 123 career starts.

The Raceway at the Western Fair continues action on Tuesday, Feb. 5 with a pair of Preferreds on the 10-race card. Racing will begin at 5:50 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink